As the United Nations marks its 80th anniversary, it faces unprecedented financial pressures. With arrears exceeding $1.5 billion and declining development assistance, the UN confronts a critical choice: secure timely contributions from Member States or overhaul its financial framework.
This discussion paper explores innovative approaches to mobilizing resources beyond traditional assessed contributions. Drawing on case studies across UN and multilateral entities, it examines models such as revenue-generating services (ITU, WIPO, UNCTAD), pooled and catalytic financing (CERF, Pandemic Fund, IFFEd), targeted levies (Unitaid, IOPC Funds, UN Secretariat), capital market instruments (IFFIm, CIF, IFAD), and in-kind or hybrid contributions (UNICEF Digital Public Goods, UN-Habitat city co-financing, SDR recycling).
The analysis highlights lessons for the UN: leveraging essential global services, pooling and de-risking capital, aligning incentives for private and public actors, and scaling innovative financing mechanisms. The paper concludes with recommendations for Member States, UN institutions, and stakeholders to explore politically feasible, institutionally sound strategies to sustain the UN’s mandates and effectiveness in a constrained fiscal environment.
Access "Moving from Crisis Management to Resource Mobilization in the UN80 Process" here.